Ketamine Treatment for Chronic Pain in Southern California

Pain caused by fibromyalgia can feel unbearable. Intravenous (IV) ketamine therapy is proven to relieve symptoms of many chronic pain disorders, including fibromyalgia. As a leading IV ketamine provider, Neuro Wellness Spa has helped many patients struggling with chronic pain.

IV ketamine therapy is coordinated by Dr. Martha Koo, Neuro Wellness Spa’s Medical Director. She is an active member of the American Society of Ketamine Physicians. A leading authority on psychiatric disorders for over 20 years, Dr. Koo is passionate about using IV ketamine to help her patients find relief from treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders and chronic pain conditions.

What is Ketamine IV Therapy?

Millions of people suffer from chronic and debilitating physical and psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and depression. However, many of these conditions may stop responding to medications, like anti-depressants, and other therapies. IV ketamine therapy is a safe and effective treatment option for people who suffer from treatment-resistant:

Depression

Anxiety

Acute suicidality

PTSD

Chronic pain

Physicians have used Ketamine for over 50 years as an anesthetic. However, new research indicates its effectiveness in other applications too.

Researchers at Mass General Hospital conducted the largest study of IV ketamine therapy. They found that over 70% of patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression experienced symptom relief with IV ketamine therapy. This study, along with a growing number of others, is a major finding that demonstrates the effectiveness of IV ketamine for those who have tried standard treatments but haven’t responded adequately.

What is Ketamine IV Therapy?

NeuroWellness Spa TMS Offices

Millions of people suffer from chronic and debilitating physical and psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and depression. However, many of these conditions may stop responding to medications, like anti-depressants, and other therapies. IV ketamine therapy is a safe and effective treatment option for people who suffer from treatment-resistant:

Depression

Anxiety

Acute suicidality

PTSD

Chronic pain

Physicians have used Ketamine for over 50 years as an anesthetic. However, new research indicates its effectiveness in other applications too.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Machine at the NeuroWellness Spa.

Researchers at Mass General Hospital conducted the largest study of IV ketamine therapy. They found that over 70% of patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression experienced symptom relief with IV ketamine therapy. This study, along with a growing number of others, is a major finding that demonstrates the effectiveness of IV ketamine for those who have tried standard treatments but haven’t responded adequately.

How Is Fibromyalgia Treated with Ketamine IV Therapy?

Fibromyalgia, though still widely misunderstood, is now considered to be a lifelong central nervous system disorder which causes shooting pain. Fibromyalgia pain can be treated with IV ketamine therapy due to ketamine’s NMDA receptor inhibition mechanism.

NMDA is a type of receptor that helps bind together glutamate in order to manage the brain’s most important pain center, the thalamus. When the NMDA receptor is blocked, ketamine brings acute and chronic pain relief. Some researchers indicate that ketamine does this by resetting the hyper-sensitized pain receptors in the nervous system.

Ketamine was originally approved by the FDA as an anesthetic. Today, it can be used to treat a range of physical and psychiatric disorders. Not only has IV ketamine therapy been shown to be a safe and effective treatment for physical pain, but it has also been widely applied to treat medication-resistant psychiatric disorders that often concurrently affect those with fibromyalgia.

If medications and nonpharmacological interventions don’t work, IV ketamine therapy may be a treatment option for fibromyalgia. IV ketamine is known for its ability to help relieve therapy-resistant chronic pain syndromes, especially those syndromes that have a neuropathic component.

So how does the therapy work?

The dosage is decided based on the patient’s body weight (0.5mg/kg). The drug is administered at a slow and controlled pace to the patient by a trained clinician. Patients do not experience any cardiovascular, respiratory, or hallucinogenic effects during or after the treatment.

In fact, IV Ketamine doesn’t have any long-lasting associated side effects. Although some people may experience sensitivity to light and/or sound and disorientation while the treatment is administered, these feelings subside quickly when the treatment is finished.

Recent studies on Ketamine therapy for fibromyalgia have shown great results. Researchers concluded that ketamine can provide long-term remission of pain or long-term sustained relief, even for those with treatment-resistant forms of the disorder.

To achieve long-lasting pain relief with IV ketamine, generally a multiple-infusion approach is required. Most patients who have had IV ketamine feel a significant improvement after the first treatment session. This improvement wanes over the subsequent 24-48 hours, but as the IV ketamine protocol continues, the symptom relief becomes increasingly sustained.

At Neuro Wellness Spa, our trained clinicians supervise all ketamine treatments. One ketamine infusion lasts approximately 40 minutes, and the typical course of treatment includes 8-12 infusions over the course of 3-4 weeks.

What Is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes musculoskeletal pain throughout the body, fatigue and often comorbid emotional and mental distress. Nearly 2% of adults in the United States has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. A fibromyalgia diagnosis may occur when a patient expresses generalized pain throughout the body, although the exact causes of fibromyalgia are unknown.

Those with fibromyalgia may experience pain symptoms throughout the body, especially at the meeting points of muscles and tendons, fatigue and cognitive difficulties. Other coexisting conditions or symptoms may include:

headaches

depression

stiffness

IBS

Fibromyalgia is common and it currently affects an estimated 12 million Americans. Women between the ages of 20 to 50 have the highest risk of developing fibromyalgia.

What Causes Fibromyalgia?

Although the exact causes of fibromyalgia remain unknown, known risk factors include:

Genetics – This disease tends to run in families. Parents pass down genes to their children, including ones that determine pain sensitivity and the likelihood of feeling depressed or anxious. If a person’s parents had fibromyalgia, then they may be more likely to get it as well.

Other disorders – The risk of developing fibromyalgia is increased in those with a history of lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

Childhood Abuse – Those who have faced physical or emotional abuse as a child have an increased risk of developing fibromyalgia.

Mental Health – Those with mental health disorders including PTSD, anxiety, or depression may be more likely to develop fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia Statistics

It takes on average 2 years for someone with Fibromyalgia to receive a correct diagnosis

Over 70 percent of people who meet the criteria for a fibromyalgia diagnosis remain undiagnosed

Complications of the disorder may include:

hospitalizations

lower quality of life

depression

risk of suicide

higher rates of other rheumatic conditions including arthritis

The symptoms of fibromyalgia can be difficult to manage. At Neuro Wellness Spa, we offer a range of treatment options including ketamine therapy to help clients find relief. Learn more by getting in touch today.

How Does This Therapy Feel?

At Neuro Wellness Spa, we administer low levels of ketamine in a controlled environment.

Ketamine can be used an anesthetic during surgery. However, the dosage we use during therapy is much lower.

At Neuro Wellness Spa we use FDA-approved doses and closely monitor our patients to make sure they are comfortable and relaxed.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING IV KETAMINE THERAPY TREATMENTS?

One-on-One Consultation with an Expert Psychiatrist

A physician will begin by reviewing your medical records and consulting with you about your needs and preferences for treatment.

You will be asked some important questions.

Such as height, weight, age, and medical history as part of your treatment assessment. This information helps the physicians and medical staff prepare your treatment plan.

Ketamine infusions are administered on an outpatient basis.

Ketamine is administered through an IV, and the infusion lasts between 40-50 minutes.

Your treatment environment can have a large impact on your experience of the infusion.

Your clinician may lower the lights, offer an eye mask or aromatherapy, or take other measures to make the setting more comfortable. You might also choose some relaxing music to help you through the onset phase.

Ketamine is administered through an IV.

You will receive treatment in a private room, accompanied by a trained healthcare professional for the duration of the infusion. As the ketamine is delivered at a low and controlled dosage, your blood pressure, pulse and oxygen saturation will be monitored.

IV Ketamine therapy is fast-acting.

Although you remain aware of your surroundings, you will experience deep relaxation. It is important to enter each infusion with a positive mindset and a tranquil setting.

Some patients may experience dizziness, nausea, dissociation or fatigue.

A complete list of possible side effects will be discussed with you prior to treatment. After a treatment session, it is important to have someone available to accompany you home safely.

Your mindset and emotional state before treatment can impact your experience of the infusion.

Prior to every ketamine infusion, we help our patients prepare intentions for their therapy. The stronger and clearer the intention, the more profound it may help the therapy to be.

Contact Neuro Wellness Spa

Do you need a new treatment option for your fibromyalgia pain?

Contact us through our website, or visit us at one of our locations in Southern California. We’ll be happy to meet with you and discuss your treatment options including whether IV ketamine may be an effective approach for you.